Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Men's Baseball

Bio Starting a collegiate baseball team from the ground up is no easy task, but having someone Like Coach Paul Bottigliero heading up the Bobcats Baseball recruitment efforts will put Bryant & Stratton on the right track for success.  Coach Bottigliero joined the Bryant and Stratton baseball staff in January of 2016. Prior to joining the Bobcat staff, coach Bottigliero was at Old Dominion University from 2011-2015. While at ODU Coach Bottigliero served as the third base coach, hitting instructor and catching instructor. In the four seasons with the Monarch coach Bottigliero helped 3 position players to being selected in the MLB Draft along with helping two freshman All-Americans in Nick Walker and Zach Rutherford. 2015 While serving as hitting coach the offense finished in the top 3 of C-USA in batting average (.290), on base pct (.379), Doubles (110), total bases (738), walks (224), HBP (54) and strikeouts (293) 2 All- Conference Players 2014 Team finished 36-26 (5th in C-USA) and earned an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament The 2014 offense finished 1st in Conference USA in runs scored (344), doubles (111), stolen bases (62) and HBP (72). The offense finished 2nd in Conference USA in hits, RBI, triples and Total bases. Finish 3rd in batting average (.280) and on base pct (.360).Team finished 2nd in Conference USA with a .976 fielding percentage. 2013 Team Finished 30-24 and had the best winning percentage since 2007 at ODU. In 2013 coached 3rd team All-American Ben Verlander, 14th round selection. Along with duties as assistant coach Bottigliero served as camp director for Chris Finwood Baseball camps. Prior to Old Dominion University, Bottigliero played in the Atlantic League for the Somerset Patriots under manager Sparky Lyle.  Playing one season as a Catcher. As a college player Bottigliero played at Monmouth University in the 2008 and 2009 season, helping the Hawks to a regular season title in 2008 and a 2009 NEC Tournament title and getting an automatic bid to the Oxford, Mississippi regional. In 2009 Bottigliero set the school record for single season Homerun with 17 and ranking in the top 3 with 59 RBI’s. Coach Bottigliero played juco baseball at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas  where he finished 10th in the nation with 16 home runs in 2015. Coach Bottigliero currently resides in Virginia Beach, VA.      

Bio Coach Wesley enters the 2025 season with an impressive track record of player development and program success. With a passion for helping student-athletes reach their full potential, Coach Wesley has been an integral part of Bryant & Stratton College's continued rise in competitive college baseball. 2024: Assisted the team in achieving the most wins in school history (31) and its highest-ever conference tournament seed (2nd)... Played a key role in setting a program record for fielding percentage (.978)... Contributed to improving the offensive attack, raising the team's batting average to .312, increasing the walks-to-strikeouts ratio (BB/KK) to 2:1, and helping the team average 8 runs per game... Improved team offensive contact percentage to 82.1%... Recruited and helped develop a stronger pitching staff, reducing the team's ERA by 2 points, from 6.5 to 4.55 in conference... Assisted in the development of five All-Conference players and one Gold Glover. 2023: Instrumental in the development of five All-Conference position players and one All-American... Contributed to a 30-point increase in team batting average (.270 to .300)... Helped boost the team’s offensive production, including a 20-homer increase and 145 stolen bases... The offense averaged 7.5 runs per game under Coach Wesley's guidance. 2022: Helped guide the team to a Top 25 national ranking and the highest-ever finish in conference standings (4th)... Led the team to a 14-game improvement over the previous season by taking over recruiting duties... Developed four All-Conference players. 2021: Played a pivotal role in improving recruiting efforts, culminating in the team's first-ever top-50 recruiting class, according to Perfect Game. Throughout his coaching career, Coach Wesley has consistently demonstrated a keen eye for talent, a commitment to skill development, and a focus on building a winning culture. His ability to recruit top-tier players and develop them into high-performing athletes has contributed directly to the team’s success. When he's not on the field, Coach Wesley enjoys being a dedicated father and continues to advocate for his players’ academic and athletic success. He remains dedicated to the growth and development of his athletes, both on and off the diamond, teaching them valuable life skills alongside their baseball training.  

Bio With over twenty years of professional pitching experience under his belt, Coach Gary Lavelle will be an incredible asset to Bryant & Stratton’s new baseball program. He spent most of his his pro pitching career with the San Francisco Giants where he was twice named a National League All-Star and held the record for most game appearances as well as being listed in the top 10 for saves and wins.  Coach Lavelle also played pro ball for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics before deciding to move from the mound to the coaches’ box, where he had a strong desire to work with youngsters in developing their baseball ability, sportsmanship and leadership.  As head coach of Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake, VA, Lavelle was named TCIS Conference Coach of the Year for six consecutive years, as well as a seven-time Virginia State Independent Schools Coach of the Year.  Lavelle’s team was a four-time winner of the Metro Conference Championship, a six-time winner of the Division I Virginia State Championship, and winner of the Division II Virginia State Championship in 1999.  In 2000, Coach Lavelle returned to the Big Leagues as a Pitching Coach for the New York Yankees where he culminated his career as the 2004 Eastern League All Star Game Pitching Coach. After five years with the Yankees, Lavelle decided to return to Greenbrier Christian Academy where he had found his true calling. Over the next 10 years, his team went on to win the Virginia Independent Schools State Championship four times and Lavelle was named Coach of the Year for each of those years. In 2016, Coach Lavelle officially retired from Greenbrier Christian Academy and accepted the position as the Bobcats Baseball Team Head Coach.  In 2019, the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame inducted Head Coach Gary Lavell. Head Coach Gary Lavell will return in the Fall 2020 alongside Head Coach Bottigliero as Special Advisor to Head Coach and Assistant Pitching Coach.   In his new role, Lavell will assist Head Coach Paul Bottigliero in all phases of development of the baseball program, including recruitment of players and development of the bullpen.     

Bio Sam Ramirez played high school baseball at Bay City Central high school in Bay City, MI. While in high school Ramirez was a four year varsity player and an all conference pitcher. In 2004 Ramirez signed his NLI to play at Garden City CC (KS). During his senior year he suffered a season ending injury and had Tommy John Surgery. After high school and surgery, Ramirez played for Garden City (KS) and also signed his NLI to play for Saginaw Valley State University (MI) in 2007. Ramirez then became the Varsity Pitching Coach for Bay City Central High School from 2009-2020 where he proudly sent eleven players to play at the collegiate level. He now resides in Florida with his wife Jessica and two sons Robert and Rickey, while coaching in the Tampa Bay Area

Bio Coach More joins the BSC Baseball staff as the Pitching Coach with a decorated resume... Coaching: 2022: Assistant Coach, Woodstock River-Bandits (Valley Baseball League), Woodstock, VA 2017 - 2021, 2023-2025: Head Coach, Greenbrier Knights (Tidewater Summer League), Virginia Beach, VA 2016 - 2018: Assistant Coach, Bryant & Stratton College (NJCAA Division II, Region X), Virginia Beach, VA 2016: Head Coach, Portsmouth Sea Monsters (Virginia Beach Collegiate Summer League—Champions), Virginia, Beach, VA 2015: Assistant Coach, Chesapeake Pirates (Tidewater Summer League), Chesapeake, VA 2014 - 2016: Assistant Coach, Virginia Wesleyan College (NCAA Division III), Virginia Beach, VA 2008 - 2013: Head Coach, Rappahannock Community College (NJCAA Division II, Region XX), Warsaw, VA 2009: Virginia Community College System (VCCS) State Champions Invited to numerous camps and clinics at colleges and universities to provide hitting and pitching instruction to high school athletes and to recruit new members to the college baseball team. Maintained close working relationships with four-year college coaches throughout Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Maryland, to assure greatest access to scholarship opportunities for the college’s graduating sophomores. 1990 -1992: Head Coach, Chowan College (NJCAA), Murfreesboro, NC 1987 -1990: Assistant Coach, Chowan College (NJCAA), Murfreesboro, NC 1986 - 1987: Assistant Coach, Louisburg College (NJCAA), Louisburg, NC Individual and Team Instruction: 2022: Instructor, Baseball Rebellion, Durham, NC 1999 - 2006: Served as an assistant coach with the Tidewater White Sox (TWS) fall-showcase team. Assisted many local players in their college recruitment process, the majority of which went on to compete at the NCAA Division I level, with a number moving into the ranks of professional baseball. 1994 - 1999: Instructor, Virginia Beach Grand Slam, USA, Virginia Beach, VA Provided private and group hitting and pitching instruction to local players (Hampton Roads Region), several of whom advanced to play college and professional baseball. Team instruction included a 1997 pre-season, twelve-week hitting academy with Frank W. Cox High School, Virginia Beach, VA; Frank W. Cox High School was eventual 1997 Virginia High School League 1997 AAA State Champions. Joined the National Pitching Association (NPA) headed by former Major League Pitcher and Major League Pitching Coach Dr. Tom House, among the world’s foremost authorities on pitching mechanics Moore’s academic background includes a Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law and a Master of Arts in History from Old Dominion University. His legal and historical expertise has also informed his work as a collegiate educator, further emphasizing his holistic approach to student-athlete development Collegiate Playing Career: 1984 - 1986: Gardner-Webb College (NAIA), Boiling Springs, NC 1982 - 1983: Chowan Junior College (NJCAA), Murfreesboro, NC